Hell, I'm pretty sure Savage is there. They have some of the best factory barrels right now. Their synthetic stocks need work, but then, so do most stocks IMO. I would take another look, because they are far from the junk of the past.

Pick one up, or better yet shoot one. Come on over and I'll show you a half dozen that can shoot extremely well. It will change your mind on Savage as it changed mine.

I might have to take you up on that. I would like to take another look at them. I have shot the savage tactical (older model) in .308 next to my 700 pss .308 and hands down I would take the 700. However that was 2 years ago and I understand things change.

As long as you pass on a savage with a cheesy synthetic stock you will be fine. I had a Savage 93 in 17HMR that shot a witnessed .435 outside to outside five shot group at 100 yds. . My anschutz though more refined and definatley a better gun has yet to match that.

Citori12 wrote:Your choices are understandable.....but let me leave you with this note:Anyone who can consistantly hit the vitals of a blacktail deer at 300 yards needs precision accuracy....those folks that shoot precision long distance target all reload...why? because just changing the overall length of the cartridge to suit the rifle will make the difference between 1 1/2" groups and .50" groups....the folks that I know that are accurate on a range at 300 yards all reload thier own ammunition. Being Ex-military that .243 factory gun and cartridge would be a pretty poor substitute for a 300 yard gun.

I guess you like the 10 gauge for deer hunting too....

Seriously, you do not need to reload to have a 300 yard gun. With the premium factory loads made today, a person should be able to find an accurate load. A 1 1/2 gun is more than accuarate in the real deer hunting world for a 300 yard shot.

I've gotten groups of 1/2" with federal premiums out of my 243. When I needed more ammo and could not buy premiums, winchesters (which out of my gun group about 1-1 1/2") are a great substitute. The reason why I give the size of these groups is to show that I like an accurate rifle. I'm also accurate with a rifle (I don't reload rifle shells either). Does a hunting rifle actually need this kind of accuracy. Not for most shots. I can pick a hole out in the brush and thread a bullet through it on short shots. I can (AND HAVE) kill deer out past 300 yards.

If you were planing on shooting deer at 500 yards or more you need something that will shoot under 1". But then you also need a gun with a whole lot more power, not to mention a rangefinder, a rock solid rest, and a lot more skill than 99% of hunters have.

The reason I'm writing this is although handloading will usually give you a more accurate load, alot of the time it is probally not worth the trouble unless you just enjoy reloading.

I'd suggest a .22-250 as well. I've seen that round knock rabbits and coyotes to the ground in the 300-400 yard range with no problem. I don't own one personally, but a good friend of mine owns a remington model 700 chambered in the .250 and I've fired it plenty...great round! He's topped it with a (I can't remember the make) 3-9x50 scope and it's a good flat shooter. Just my opinion though.